Damper apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a damper apparatus comprises springs, a holder for holding the springs, and a plate having pawls engaged by the springs, splines are provided on an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion of the damper apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.10/076,412 filed Feb. 19, 2002, which is a continuation of applicationSer. No. 09/573,941 filed May 19, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a damper apparatus which is usedin a torque converter or a starting clutch used with an automatictransmission of a vehicle and the like and which is used in a powertransmitting mechanism at an output side of an engine.

[0004] 2. Related Background Art

[0005]FIGS. 3 and 4 show an example of a conventional damper apparatus.This apparatus will be explained hereinbelow. FIG. 3 is a front view ofthe conventional damper apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view takenalong the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

[0006] A damper apparatus 51 comprises a retainer plates 71, 72 havingperipheral portions interconnected by rivets 73, a plurality of sets ofsmall and large spring 81, 82 (one small spring 81 and one large spring82 constitute one set) disposed at predetermined position within anannular cavity defined by the retainer plates 71, 72 piece members 65each of which is disposed between adjacent sets of springs 81, 82 and ismovable in the cavity defined by the retainer plates 71, 72 and a plate61 having pawls 63 elastically engaged by the springs 81, 82. Further,the retainer plate 81 is provided with bent portions 75 for regulatingmovements of the springs 81, 82.

[0007] The damper apparatus 51 is assembled in such a manner that thedamper apparatus is attached to one of opponent members by the rivets 73inserted into holes 74 provided in the retainer plates 71, 72 and isattached to the other of the opponent members by splines formed on aninner periphery of the plate 61.

[0008] However, since the above-mentioned damper apparatus 51 isattached to the opponent member by the rivets 73, as shown in FIG. 4, itis necessary that outer peripheral edge portions of the retainer plates71, 72 having holes 74 be parallel with the opponent member and acertain amount of a width of each parallel portion be maintained,thereby arising a problem that a the dimension in a radial directionbecomes great.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide adamper apparatus in which a width thereof in a radial direction isreduced.

[0010] To achieve the above object, a damper apparatus according to thepresent invention comprises a spring, a holder for holding the spring,and a plate having a pawl elastically engaged by the spring and ischaracterized in that splines are provided on an inner peripheralportion and an outer peripheral portion of the damper apparatus.

[0011] Further, the holder may be constituted by pinching an annularring between two retainer plates.

[0012] Splines having common configuration may be provided on outerperipheries of two retainer plates, and splines may also be provided onan inner periphery of the plate having the pawl.

[0013] Further, the number of locations where the retainer plates andthe ring are interconnected is increased in comparison with that in theconventional technique, and a diameter of each rivet is made smaller.With this arrangement, a width in a radial direction can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front view of a damper apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front view of a conventional damper apparatus; and

[0017]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention will now be fully explained in connectionwith an embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.Incidentally, in the drawings, the same elements are designated by thesame reference numerals. FIG. 1 is a front view of a damper apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is asectional view taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0019] A damper apparatus 1 is constituted by substantially annularretainer plates 11, 12 and a ring 33. The damper apparatus 1 includes aholder 35 provided at its outer periphery with a plurality of splines 42equidistantly arranged along a circumferential direction. Within acavity defined by the holder 35, a plurality of sets of small and largesprings 31, 32 (one small spring 31 and one large spring 32 constituteone set) are disposed at predetermined position with intervalssubstantially equidistant in circumferential direction. The small spring31 and the large spring 32 are coil springs having predetermined springconstants, and the small spring 31 is fitted within the large spring 32.

[0020] The damper apparatus 1 further includes a substantially annularplate 13 having pawls 14 elastically engaged by the small spring 31 andthe large spring 32 and a plurality of spines 41 disposes on an innerperiphery thereof with intervals substantially equidistant in acircumferential direction and piece member 15 disposed between theplurality of small springs 31 and large springs 32 are movable in thecavity defined by the holder 35.

[0021] The damper apparatus 1 is assembled by fitting one of opponentmembers on the inner splines 42 and by fitting the other of the opponentmembers on the inner splines 41. Further, the retainer plates 11, 12 andthe ring 33 are integrally secured to each other by inserting rivets 23into axial through-holes 24 provided in these elements. As shown in FIG.1, the plurality of through-holes 24 are disposed substantiallyequidistantly along the circumferential direction. Further, since therivets 23 each having a diameter smaller than that in the prior art areused, widths of the retainer plates 11, 12 in a radial direction can bereduced.

[0022] The retainer plates 11, 12 are provided with a plurality of bentportions 25 adapted to regulate movements of the small springs 31 andthe large spring 32 and arranged at predetermined positions in thecircumferential direction. As a result, when torque is transmitted, ifvibration is generated between the holder 35 and the substantiallyannular plate 13, the small springs 31 and the large springs 32 arecompressed between the pawls 14 and the bent portions 25, therebyabsorbing the vibration.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, while an example that the splinesare provided on the outer periphery of the holder 35 and the innerperiphery of the plate 13 having the pawls 14 was explained, the splinesmay be provided on an inner periphery of the holder and an outerperiphery of the plate. That is to say, a damper apparatus according tothe present invention can be obtained in such a manner that the pawls 14are provided on the inner periphery of the plate 13 and the splines aremachined on the outer periphery of the plate 13, and further, the holder35 is assembled by effecting caulking on inner periphery of the holder.Further, when the diameters of the retainer plates are reduced and thediameter of the ring 33 is increased, the outer splines may be providedon the ring 33.

[0024] The above-mentioned damper apparatus 1 is used with a torqueconverter used in an automatic transmission of a vehicle by arranging itin a lock-up piston of the torque converter. Alternatively, the damperapparatus can be used with a starting clutch.

[0025] The above-mentioned present invention provides the followingadvantages.

[0026] Since the plates are interconnected via the splines, a width ofthe damper apparatus in the radial direction can be reduced.

[0027] Since the holder for holding the springs is constituted bypinching the annular ring between two retainer plates, strength of thedamper apparatus can be enhanced, and attaching accuracy can be improvedby lengthening axial dimensions of the splines.

What is claimed is:
 1. A damper apparatus comprising: a spring; a holderfor holding said spring; and a plate having a pawl elastically engagedby said spring, wherein splines are provided on an inner peripheralportion of said plate and an outer peripheral portion of said holder. 2.A damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holder isconstituted by pinching an annular ring between two retainer plates. 3.A damper apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes anannular ring disposed between two retainer plates.
 4. A damper apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the annular ring has a substantial equalthickness in the axial direction to the thickness of the plate in theaxial direction and wherein said splines are formed on said two retainerplates and a rivet is disposed through a spline of each of said retainerplates and said annular ring.
 5. A damper apparatus comprising: aspring; a holder for holding said spring; and a plate having a pawlelastically engaged by said spring, wherein splines are provided on aninner peripheral portion of said holder and an outer peripheral portionof said plate.
 6. A damper apparatus according to claim 5, wherein saidholder includes an annular ring disposed between two retainer plates. 7.A damper apparatus comprising: a spring; a holder holding said springand including two retainer plates; a plate having a pawl elasticallyengaged by said spring; and an annular ring disposed between said tworetainer plates; wherein splines are provided on an inner peripheralportion of at least one of said plate and said holder and an outerperipheral portion of the other of said plate and said holder andwherein opposite end surfaces of said annular ring are substantiallyaligned with opposite end surfaces of said plate in an axial direction.8. A damper apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said holder includesan annular ring disposed between two retainer plates.
 9. A damperapparatus according to claim 8, wherein said splines are provided onsaid two retainer plates of said holder.
 10. A damper apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein a rivet is disposed through a spline ofeach of said retainer plates and said annular ring.